Places to See in Thailand

STORY BY ROBERT SCHRADER​The majority of Thailand travelers enter the country via Suvarnabhumi International Airport, the massive air hub serving Bangkok.Traveler opinions of Bangkok vary widely — it’s my favorite city in the world while many friends of mine wouldn’t return their for any reason — but I recommend you at least give it a shot. Backpackers typically stay in Bangkok’s manic Khao San Road neighborhood, but I advise against that unless you really feel you need the experience.

Thailand’s main draw is undoubtedly the hundreds of islands that pepper its Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea coastlines, from highly touristed ones like Koh Chang, Koh Samui and Phuket, to more off-the-beaten-path islands like Koh Mak and Koh Lipae. Many travelers also visit Thailand’s northern expanses and, in particular, the backpacker hotspot of Chiang Mai. Northern Thailand is where you’ll find the most pronounced Buddhist influence, as well as elephants, tigers, and a laid-back, Bohemian feel that’s difficult to come across in most of the rest of the Thailand.​Pattaya (pictured below) is a large coastal city close to Bangkok that is popular not only as a gateway to Thailand’s beaches, but also for its reputation as a sex tourism hub.If you are coming from Laos you can take an overnight train from the Lao capital of Vientiane to Bangkok.

Cost of Travel in Thailand (2012)

Thailand, like most of the rest of Southeast Asia, is extremely cheap. If you stay in hostels, eat street food and use public transport, you can live comfortable for 25-40 U.S. dollars a day. When I go to Bangkok, I usually stay in a three-star hotel and live it up a bit, and still don’t spend more than about $75 per day. ​Thailand’s currency is the baht, which you can get by inserting your bank card from back home into Thai ATMs, or by exchanging your home currency at the airport or money changer, most of which don’t charge commission.

Transportation in Thailand

While much of the country still offers its traditional ways of getting around, after several decades of booming tourism numbers Thailand is now home to one of the most sophisticated transportation networks in Southeast Asia. Bangkok has two rapid transit lines: The “SkyTrain” light rail and the underground MRT. Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong station is also hub of the country’s rail network, which can take you to basically anywhere you want to go. Government and private buses alike operate long-distance treks in Thailand, although travel times can be exhaustive. If you’re in a rush and don’t mind paying a bit, hop a low cost flight on from Bangkok to most anywhere in Thailand.

Ladyboys in Thailand

Among the kitsch with which Thailand is associated internationally are “ladyboys” (their term, not mine), which owes to the large numbers of male-to-female transvestites living in Thailand. Although ladyboys are reasonably well accepted in Thai society, many of them still work as prostitutes or, more glamorously, as stage performers in productions like Tiffany’s Show in Pattaya. It is said the best way to identify a ladyboy is that they often have larger shoulders and feet!That said, Thai ladyboys have a reputation as being indistinguishable from actual women so if you’re a straight man traveling in Thailand, be careful who you go home with!

Visas for Thailand

Thailand issues 30-day entry stamps to nationals of most countries upon arrival at all international airports; If you enter by land, you only receive a 14-day stamp. You must obtain a Thai visa in advance of travel to Thailand if you wish to work or study in Thailand, or to travel there for more than 30 days without leaving and re-entering.